Trafficking in persons violates the most basic of human rights. It degrades our common humanity and is intolerable in any society. Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery. To combat this heinous crime, we recognize and build on the progress of the past ten years since the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and the Palermo Protocol.

As members of the President’s Interagency Task Force, we commit to a balanced approach in the prevention of human trafficking, the protection of victims and the prosecution of their traffickers.

We pledge to uphold a system that provides for all victims, whether they have lost their freedom through sex trafficking or labor trafficking, and regardless of age, gender or immigration status.

We will continue vigorously to investigate and prosecute traffickers and work toward dismantling the criminal enterprises that perpetuate human trafficking.

We will work tirelessly to overcome the barriers to victim identification and assistance, continuing a victim-centered approach and focusing on vulnerable populations at greatest risk.

We will collaborate with international, federal, state, and local counterparts, the private sector, and nongovernmental organizations and advocates, recognizing that the key to ending this crime is rooted in strong and effective partnerships.

As the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, we will work with our partners across borders and oceans on behalf of the victims of trafficking to combat this violation of basic human rights.For the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons:

THE DEPARTMENT OF STATETHE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSETHE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICETHE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURETHE DEPARTMENT OF LABORTHE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESTHE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONTHE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITYOFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGETOFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCEUNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTU.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION